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President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. leads the 84th anniversary commemoration of Araw ng Kagitingan on April 9, 2026, spearheading a wreath-laying ceremony at the Dambana ng Kagitingan in Bataan.
The STAR / Noel Pabalate
MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has approved the release of P8 billion in assistance to over 42,000 barangays nationwide to help cushion the impact of the Middle East crisis, Malacañang said.
Each barangay will receive P200,000 under the “Bawat Barangay Makikinabang” program to fund education, social and economic projects, Executive Secretary Ralph Recto said Thursday, April 10.
The Palace said half of the allocation may be used for community needs such as street lights, patrol vehicles, closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras and power generators for health centers and evacuation facilities.
The remaining half will be allotted for a “finisher program” to assist college seniors at risk of dropping out due to financial constraints. Up to 200,000 students nearing graduation could benefit from the program, the Office of the Executive Secretary said.
“We will not allow them to stop in their final year of studies,” Recto said, referring to affected students.
The program was rolled out on March 24, with 5,000 barangays receiving the initial batch of funds “without fanfare,” Recto said.
Some of the latest beneficiaries were barangays in Pilar, Bataan, where the president led the distribution following his attendance at the Araw ng Kagitingan rites.
Recto said the move aims to strengthen barangays as frontliners in responding to community concerns.
“They are the first to see problems and they should also have the capacity to act immediately,” he said.
The Office of the President has partnered with the Liga ng mga Barangay to facilitate the release and monitor the use of funds. Oversight will be handled by the Department of the Interior and Local Government to ensure compliance with government rules.
Distribution of the assistance must be completed before June, with full utilization required by the end of the year.
The program forms part of the government’s broader response to the economic impact of the Middle East conflict, which has triggered higher fuel prices, a weaker peso and concerns over livelihoods and food security.
